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Overview

The theme of this conference is Casting a wider net. The conference will discuss the challenges of making cardiovascular health and rehabilitation services more inclusive and accessible to cardiac patients, including minority groups and Aboriginal Australians. It also recognises the relevance of behavioural interventions to other chronic diseases.

HealthInfoNet Cafe

The Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association held its 21st national conference in Perth over the period 8 - 10 August 2011. The conference theme was 'Casting a wider net'. Conference presenters included multidisciplinary health professionals involved in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, and the program included international and national keynote speakers, as well as a range of invited speakers. A strong focus of the conference covered: the barriers of inclusion and accessibility of cardiac patients, including Indigenous Australians; and behavioural interventions and other chronic disease.

The conference attracted over 200 delegates and included: people working with and caring for those who have cardiovascular disease; service providers; care workers, nurses, doctors and clinicians; and those involved in research and public policy.

Caitlin Gray from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet presented to conference delegates on the first morning of the conference with a concurrent session entitled ‘Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet: Internet-based knowledge about Indigenous cardiovascular health for the workforce'. Caitlin Gray also conducted a HealthInfoNet cafe for two days during the conference. Given the large extent of cardiovascular disease in the Indigenous Australian population, delegates were keen to hear about the breadth of information they could access in this specific area.